Goaltenders have a reputation for being offbeat, and that’s probably deserved, but there is something about Marc-Andre Fleury that really sets him apart. He’s goofy yet genuine. He’s always smiling, yet he’s serious about goaltending. He can cuss a blue streak in two languages, yet he’s wonderful dealing with kids.

A slice of his quirkiness: Along with the initials of his grandparents, Fleury on many of his helmets over the years has had a small green frog. Why? Because “frog” is a derogatory term for French-Canadians. Fleury has said he’s not trying to validate the slur or make a political statement. He apparently just thinks it’s funny.

It would seem to be nearly impossible to spend any time around Fleury or interact with him without being amused by him and, well, like him.

As he and the Vegas Golden Knights prepare to face Washington in the Stanley Cup final and chase history by trying to win the chalice as a first-year expansion team, we thought fans in Pittsburgh – where he spent his adult years before going to Vegas – might enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at his personality.

Here are three Flower stories:

This content is for PHN Extra subscribers only. Join us for only $2.99 per month/$21.00 per year. Join us!

Shelly is the newest columnist and reporter for Pittsburgh Hockey Now. She was a Penguins beat writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and remains a contributor to The Hockey News. Catch her on Twitter @_shellyanderson